In 2023, almost 8 million Pakistanis departed for foreign countries, according to the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) annual immigration report.
19.5 million visitors were successfully processed by FIA Immigration at international arrival and departure counters, according to the report.
In the past year, a total of 9.2 million passengers passed through Pakistan’s airports, with 7.1 million being Pakistani nationals and 2.1 million being foreign visitors to the country. Additionally, out of 10.3 million passengers, 8.1 million were Pakistani nationals, and 2.2 million were foreigners departing from Pakistan.
Lahore Airport emerged as a prominent hub, facilitating the overseas travel of a maximum of 3.6 million Pakistani passengers, while Islamabad Airport recorded 3.5 million Pakistani passengers for both arrivals and departures.
The FIA Integrated Border Management System played a crucial role, processing 2935 stop-list cases and successfully apprehending 1602 human traffickers. Notably, operations against human trafficking resulted in the arrest of 25 most-wanted individuals involved in such activities throughout the year 2023. The US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report for 2023 maintained Pakistan’s Tier 2 status.
To enhance security measures, strict screening procedures were implemented at airports. This not only aimed to prevent individuals posing as beggars under the guise of Umrah but also sought to avert tragic incidents akin to the Greece boat accident.
In efforts to maintain document authenticity, 1,129 passengers were offloaded and subsequently shifted to respective police stations due to the detection of fake documents during the screening process. These comprehensive measures underscore the commitment of authorities to ensuring the safety, security, and integrity of air travel in and out of Pakistan.
